Music and lifestyle event series In The City introduced international headliners Mereba and Jordan Ward to their South African audience this May. During the Cape Town leg, the crowd brought a welcoming energy that set the tone for the weekend’s passionate performances. The Interscope label mates performed in front of a sold-out Johannesburg crowd, packing Constitutional Hill from wall to wall. Curated by Steyn Entertainment, In The City is the perfect intersection of self-expression and inclusivity for acts that feel “slept on.” Therefore, lovers of contemporary sounds find their place in the space that In The City creates annually. In a few years, it will be commonplace to see a mainstream act perform in our major cities.
The Johannesburg leg opened with popular local acts and music matching the radiant sunset. DJ and founder of R&B gathering Strictly Soul, Akio, opened the floor with catchy tunes to dance to. “DJs don’t understand how spoiled they are to be in South Africa,” he said about our renowned dance culture. The South African Hip-Hop Award nominee insists that a dancing South African crowd is the best indicator of a great DJ set. As amapiano and dance music continue to dominate the world, this fact is becoming difficult to deny modestly.
R&B is experiencing a fusion evolution representative of this generation’s deep nostalgia worldwide, and South Africa is no different. Promising R&B powerhouse Filah Lah Lah stacked her set full of fan favourites dating back to her 2020 EP ‘Filahsofy’. “Having people connect with you on that deeper level? I don’t take it for granted,” she said about the support for her debut album ‘On Air.’ Moreover, In The City is the biggest stage she’s grace thus far. With her album gaining traction worldwide, we are certain her voice and charisma will need a bigger stage soon.
Recurring In The City local act, Lordkez treated the audience to music from her 2023 album Testament. Year after year, she delivers her music with a fiery tenderness, which is an archetype she models well. Sosh Plata hitmaker Loatinover Pounds graced the In The City stage for the first time. Along with this, they performed their latest single, Signs. Although this was not Lordkez’s first live show, witnessing her seasoned comfort on stage was truly rewarding.
As the sun set, In The City’s most highly anticipated headliners met face-to-face with the lustrous crowd. St. Louis-born singer-songwriter Jordan Ward leaped excitedly onto the stage, fueling the ensuing screams and cheers. Jordan Ward filled the stage with his enchanting personality and vibrance. He could barely contain himself while hearing the crowd sing word for word, pacing with sheer excitement. The “Jordan, we wanna party” chant commenced early in his set, to which he responded with cheeriness. “I hope this is the start of a lifelong love affair,” he said in a tribute post on Instagram. He did a stellar job warming up the stage for the moment many in attendance were waiting for.
The excitement and support shown for Mereba in Cape Town and Johannesburg is evidence of the diverse musicality of South African listeners. Despite our notoriety for pop-and-lock dance challenges, hits like ‘Black Truck’ and ‘Rider’ brought many to tears. Mereba’s most notable songs have strong sing-along elements, which the crowd was all too ready to belt out. Her stage presence reached the depths of the packed crowd, leaving us spellbound and feening for another round of songs. “I’ll treasure my first shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg for the rest of my life!” she wrote on Instagram. Undoubtedly, this edition of In The City embedded core memories in our hearts for years to come.
From Jacob Banks to French Kiwi Juice and Mereba, In The City curates an event for unsung genres and voices. Unquestionably, bridging the gap between international acts and their passionate intercontinental audiences will always be necessary. However, In The City’s influence becomes more profound when it showcases what and who the South African music scene offers. Upon returning in 2023, In The City and its partners have cemented themselves as the place for stand-alone international performances. Certainly, a new cohort of compelling R&B/Soul acts emerge unexpectedly year after year. Yet, finally, In The City is the place where their music can be seen and heard.
Since 2012, In The City has evolved from a mere music festival to a countrywide cultural movement for music lovers. Furthermore, each event aims to represent a different genre of music, creating a spotlight and moment for contemporary artists. For more shows and experiences that will feed the soul, follow In The City Africa to see what they have in store.
